:: Shell-Shocked :: Review: Tinsplash v0.0.6 by tin_omen

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Theme: Rhodium Edge by arhra reviewed by 143lsstep

Review: Tinsplash v0.0.6 by tin_omen

Reviewers: 143lsstep and ravi
Platform: Windows 2k/XP
Download: desktopian.org

Ever wondered how to create those snazzy looking splash screens? Well the answer is here! Tinsplash is a small application inspired from geek master's lssplash (a litestep module) and Aleni's XPlash. Tinsplash uses the Win2k/XP transparency and fade effects to create cool looking splash screens. It is completely independent of any shell and can be loaded/executed at any time.

Figure 1: Splash screen fading over window

The configuration is simple, you just need to specify the graphics and the effects in a *.ini file and voila ... everything rocks.

Tinsplash also supports magic pink transparency to give you irregular shaped splash screens. One can also scale the splash images to a custom size as well as pass different *.ini files as arguments . Supported image types are bitmap, icon, metafile, gif and jpeg. The executable weighs in at a mere 28 kb, so it's small and fast.

Figure 2: Irregularly shaped splash pic

Things that we would love to see in the future are more effects and support for animated files. Feel free to leave your suggestions here, and maybe if tin_omen has the time and inclination, he'll implement some of them.

We asked tin_omen to say a few words about tinsplash - inspiration, goals, problems encountered, future plans etc. and here's what he had to say:

Well, as I mentioned in the original post on release, the original inspiration was obviously geekMaster's 'lssplash.exe' from several years back. And the more recent incentive to sit down and tweak up my own 'splasher' was Aleni's XPlash Screen'. He even makes his source available. It just turned out to be simpler for me to add the appropriate SetLayeredWindowAttributes calls to my existing vb code rather than adapt Aleni's code. But either way, it's not a particularly fancy or even difficult app to slap together. Just something simple that does the job for me. :D

Goals? Of course I front-loaded the first release with the essential features I wanted. So I haven't really needed to tweak on it in quite some time. But I have updated it once before, based on a user request. So I'm certainly open to mod or bugfix requests. Heh, I just haven't gotten any other requests yet. I guess that makes a certain amount of sense, when you consider the simplicity of the app and the limited number of things you'd really want your 'splash screen' to do.:)

Plus, since the source is bundled in the distribution, anyone with a copy of VB is certainly welcome to do what they will with it! Heh, could be the wave of the future: 'tinsplash' fork distributions!

Thanks,
Todd

To see an example of tinsplash in action have a look at this video (506 kb). The video displays tinsplash in action in 143lsstep's Shell-Shocked theme. It's probably a better idea to download the program and run it yourself though.

Wanna write a review for Shell-Shocked, or join our elite team of reviewers? Get in touch!

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comments

retsbla

aleni, where I can get your xplash screen with the editable source code?

29 Feb/18:50

WJS

Finally I have found what I am looking for! A great piece of software. Keep up the good work.

23 Jun/02:18

ravi

Updates today: Download here:

09 May/11:21

ravi

okie dokie - well whenever you do :)

18 Mar/12:15

aleni

i dont have a site at the moment

18 Mar/08:10

ravi

Aleni: Maybe you could leave us a link to your site. I had to delete the link I was using because it stopped working (aleni.shellscape.org)

02 Feb/17:35

aleni mesch / aleni / aleni@phreaker.net

nice to see my code being updated and became this kick ass splasher

02 Feb/10:39

Editorial: Issue #9 (19..

Announcement: Blackbox ..

Death to the System Tra..

Tutorial: Theming Lites..

SharpE Public Beta 5

Interview: Andrew Powel..

The GUI Next Door: Geos..

Practical Modding

Windows Symbolic and Ha..

Jokes: Issue #9

ravi

Hi West - I did a while back, if it's a recent one - I haven't been checking regularly. My flat's been totally flooded from a burst pipe - so life is a bit disrutped at the moment.

03 Nov/14:18

West

Hey Ravi, did you get my email?

27 Oct/02:02

Ravi

PS Chatbox currently functional.

14 Oct/00:02

Ravi

Phew - that took a while, but all's well now. Sorry for the hiatus folks.

13 Oct/23:56

ravi

I think I'll implement a "keyword" for this site, so you'll have to start your comment with ... say "shells" ... I'll strip that and post your comment.

Hopefully that will keep the spammers at bay.

24 Mar/19:04

ravi

gv, you naughty boy you.

24 Mar/19:02

ravi

Ah, I see neither gv nor the spammers fell for it.

gv - you do realise that now I'm going to delete the spam and you'll look crazy don't you?

23 Mar/12:20

gv

spears naked what?

23 Mar/10:50

gv

Just testing ;)

22 Mar/10:37

ravi

I'm going to disable the chatbox and comments until I have some time to deal with the comment spam. Meanwhile contact me at: [link] if you'd like to post a comment.

21 Mar/17:01

sheep

what is the best shell replacment to use if you want security for liek a public desktop e-mail me at [email]

14 Mar/11:42

gv

It's called emerge desktop now and its available at [link]

09 Mar/09:35

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